About this role
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif">Key Responsibilities<br><br>1. Pre‑Season Planning & Framework<br><br>· Develop and maintain the seasonal buy planning framework, including financial targets, category mix, and phasing by month/week.<br>· Establish the OTB (Open‑to‑Buy) plan at category, and store cluster levels, ensuring alignment with sales forecasts, inventory turn targets, and margin goals.<br>· Create a store‑specific SKU width plan – define the optimal number of styles/references per store based on store tier, space productivity, and local customer demand patterns.<br><br>2. In‑Season Analysis & Tracking<br><br>· Monitor weekly sales, sell‑through, stock cover, and markdown performance against plan; identify risks and opportunities, and propose timely corrective actions (e.g., re‑phasing, transfers, or promotions).<br>· Track SKU/store level performance to validate and adjust the width plan throughout the season.<br>· Provide actionable insights to merchandising and retail teams on best‑sellers, slow‑movers, and size‑curve exceptions.<br><br>3. Data Consolidation & Reporting<br><br>· Consolidate data from multiple sources (POS, inventory, finance, external benchmarks) to produce clear, concise dashboards and executive summaries.<br>· Standardise reporting templates and KPIs to enable consistent performance reviews across regions and store formats.<br><br>4. Systems & Process Development<br><br>· Lead or support the development and enhancement of planning systems and tools (e.g., buy plan systems).<br>· Collaborate with IT and data teams to automate data feeds, improve data integrity, and reduce manual work.<br>· Document business requirements, user stories, and test scenarios for system upgrades or new implementations.<br><br>5. Cross‑Functional Collaboration<br><br>· Partner with Buying, Demand Plan, Business Plan, and Retail Operations to align buy plans with product availability, lead times, and promotional calendars.<br>· Work with store managers and field teams to validate store‑level assumptions and gather local market intelligence.<br><br>---<br><br>Qualifications & Experience<br><br>· Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or related field; MBA preferred.<br>· Minimum 6–8 years of experience in merchandise planning, buying, or inventory management, with at least 2–3 years in a managerial role.<br>· Proven track record in OTB management and assortment planning for a multi‑store retail environment (fashion, footwear, or FMCG preferred).<br>· Strong proficiency in Excel, BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and retail planning systems (e.g., JDA, Oracle Retail, or similar).<br>· Experience in system implementation or process automation is a strong plus.<br><br>---<br><br>Key Competencies<br><br>· Analytical mindset with exceptional numerical reasoning and attention to detail.<br>· Commercial acumen – ability to translate data into business decisions.<br>· Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.<br>· Proactive, solution‑oriented, and comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment.<br>· Leadership capability to coach and develop junior planners.</span></p>